A new Parish Electoral Roll was started in February 2019. If you were previously on, it prior to this date, then you must re-apply (if you have not already done so) to be on the new Electoral Role to be eligible to vote or stand for office at the next APCM in 2020.
The Parish is required to maintain an 'Electoral Roll', which lists details of everyone who is entitled to vote at the Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting. It is a requirement that the Electoral Roll be completely re-written every six years, which falls this year (2019).
The purpose of the Electoral Roll is defined as being:
- To determine eligibility for attendance at the Annual Parochial Church Council Meeting, for various elections and for other church related matters, and;
- To create the electoral roll and administer the elections; and
- To publish the electoral roll.
Under the Church Representation Rules any lay persons are entitled to have their names entered on the roll if they— (i) are baptised and aged 16 or over;
(ii) have signed a form of application for enrolment
and either
(iii) are members of the Church of England or of any Church in communion with the Church of England being resident in the parish or (not being resident in the parish) having habitually attended public worship in the parish during the six months prior to the application for enrolment
or:
(iv) are members in good standing of a Church (not in communion with the Church of England) which subscribes to the doctrine of the Holy Trinity declaring themselves also to be members of the Church of England and having habitually attended public worship in the parish during the period of six months prior to enrolment.
Where a person does not live in the parish and who for some justifiable reason (such as illness) has been prevented from regularly attending worship during the preceding six months, they may amend their application by stating that they would have attended, if able to do so.
It is currently a legal requirement to display the electoral roll, complete with addresses, for two weeks prior to the APCM. If you have a compelling reason why your address should not be shown then you should explain this to the Electoral Roll Office (see the Who's Who page). Because it is currently* a legal requirement to display the roll there is no conflict with the General Data Protection Regulations (GDPR).
A Privacy Notice is available to accompany the Electoral Roll application form [download notice].
The PCC may contact you using the information contained on the Electoral Roll for certain purposes - including for Stewardship - giving. Under the GDPR this is deemed Legitimate Interest. If you specifically do not wish to be contacted then you should advise the PCC via the Parish Administrator (see the Who's Who page).
Application forms for the Electoral Roll are available from, and should be returned to, the Electoral Roll Officer (see the Who's Who page).
* A change to the existing legislation requiring publication is currently underway, but will not be completed in time for this renewal of the roll.